Mathematics: Arithmetic, Algebra, and Data Interpretation
What the Mathematics section tests
Math items cover numbers and operations, algebraic thinking, measurement and geometry, and data interpretation. Most questions are multi-step word problems, so setup matters as much as computation.
Concepts to master
- Fractions, decimals, percentages: convert freely. Percent change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100.
- Ratios and proportions: set up a proportion and cross-multiply.
- Order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiply/divide left to right, add/subtract left to right.
- Linear equations: isolate the variable by inverse operations; whatever you do to one side, do to the other.
- Geometry formulas: area of a rectangle (l × w) and triangle (½ × b × h); circumference (πd); volume of a rectangular prism (l × w × h).
- Data: mean (sum ÷ count), median (middle value in order), mode (most frequent), and reading tables and graphs.
Traps to watch
- Unit mismatches - minutes vs. hours, centimeters vs. meters.
- Percent of vs. percent change - different formulas.
- Mean vs. median with outliers; a single extreme value pulls the mean.
- Distractor answers that match a partial step.
Worked example
A jacket costs $80 and is discounted 25%. What is the sale price?
Discount = 0.25 × 80 = $20. Sale price = 80 − 20 = $60. (Shortcut: 75% × 80 = 60.)
Rule of thumb: before computing, write down the units of the answer and estimate the magnitude. If your result is far from the estimate, recheck the setup.